Democracy is under huge pressure everywhere, made worse by the global pandemic. Too many governments in too many places are failing to deliver on the basic social contract with their citizens. In this podcast, celebrated photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam of Bangladesh discusses these issues from the perspective of a country which struggles to conduct fair elections, where inequality is extreme and poverty even more so, and where failures of democratic institutions are condoned by great powers.
Shahidul Alam serves as a juror for the 2020 Tällberg/Eliasson Global Leadership Prize.
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The Evolution of democracy throughout the Corona virus. I think most countries will find a mechanism to deliver the basics of democracy into real modern world we live in because the Corona showed us what humanity really does need.
Real picture of democracy in Bangladesh is focused by the interview of Dr. Shahidul Alam of Bangladesh. At present in Bangladesh, the autocracy is going on in the name of democracy. Last national election was occurred as eye wash, becuse most of the peoples were not took part in the activities of election.
For the time being and especially when referring to Covid19, most goverenments are repressive which seems against democracy; decisions are taken by goverenments without consulting the general public and people are forced to confinement whether they accept it or not. Unfortunately, in such situations sometimes imposing the laws and reinforcing them becomes unavoidable since many people are unconscious of the danger of wandering in the streets and getting in touch with others checking hands and getting very near one another. Those people don’t anderstand what democracy means and are usually used to dictatorship and never respect laws if they are not forced or are not afraid of punishment.